Buzz
Minor surgeries are typically considered low-risk procedures. While surgery itself always carries a certain level of danger, these procedures usually involve minimal incisions, a few stitches, and no major changes to the body’s organs. The goal is for patients to leave the outpatient facility and recover comfortably at home. However, even the most carefully planned surgeries can occasionally take an unexpected turn.
From rare allergic reactions and medical errors to pre-existing health conditions, there are instances where people tragically pass away during minor procedures. Although death is a potential risk with any surgery, its occurrence during relatively simple procedures can be particularly shocking. Here are the top 10 instances where people died during minor surgery.
10. Lidocaine Toxicity
It’s extremely rare to die from a local anesthetic, with the odds being less than 1 in 100,000. In this case, the anesthetic involved is lidocaine, commonly used in various procedures, such as trigger point injections and dental surgeries. Though generally safe, for a few unfortunate individuals, it can be fatal. The risk of death escalates if there’s an error in how the anesthetic is administered by the healthcare provider.
In 2011, a five-year-old girl named Kensley Kirby was brought to the Family Medical Clinic in Atlanta, Georgia, after a fall resulted in a broken arm. The attending doctor administered a lidocaine injection to numb the pain while setting the arm, but Kensley experienced a severe reaction. The dosage was lethal; the nerve blocker was absorbed rapidly due to her injury. Investigators later speculated that the doctor, accustomed to treating adults, failed to adjust the dosage appropriately for a child. Despite this, it remains inexcusable for a medical professional not to modify the treatment for a young patient.
9. Complications from Therapeutic Procedures
On September 4, 2014, comedian and fashion icon Joan Rivers tragically passed away due to therapeutic complications following a routine endoscopy. These complications are generally foreseeable outcomes of medical treatments or procedures.
While under anesthesia, Joan Rivers suffered a spasm in her vocal cords, which obstructed the flow of oxygen to her brain. Her throat swelled up, preventing doctors from inserting a breathing tube in time, which led to brain damage and respiratory failure. Her heart went into arrhythmia—an irregular heartbeat—and ultimately stopped. Although her death is incredibly tragic, heart and respiratory failure, along with subsequent brain damage, are uncommon side effects of anesthesia.
However, Joan Rivers' death may not have been solely caused by her vocal cords spasming. The doctors performing the procedure came under investigation for malpractice. Aside from the controversial act of taking a selfie with Joan while she was under anesthesia, they also carried out a laryngoscopy, a procedure that Joan had not consented to. A detailed timeline of events suggests that had the medical team recognized her dropping blood pressure and pulse sooner, they might have been able to prevent her death.
8. Andy’s Gallbladder
Andy Warhol, the visionary pop artist and cultural icon, lived a larger-than-life existence in Manhattan, surrounded by fame and controversy. In 1968, radical writer and artist Valerie Solanas entered Warhol’s office and shot him twice. The bullets caused severe damage to his organs, including his lungs, and it was uncertain whether he would survive. He even briefly passed away at the hospital during treatment. But against the odds, Warhol survived. You might think that surviving such a violent attack would protect him from any future danger, but that wasn't the case.
What the media had originally described as a simple 'routine' gallbladder surgery was, in fact, what eventually led to Warhol’s death. In his case, it was anything but routine. The compounded stress from his recovery, the lingering effects of his gunshot wounds, daily use of speed, and a prolonged illness overwhelmed his heart. Though he survived the surgery, he did not survive the hospital stay.
7. A Dangerous Visit to the Dentist
Nitrous oxide is typically a safe and effective option for pain and anxiety relief during outpatient procedures. However, improper use can be deadly. In one tragic incident, a young boy died from a lack of oxygen during a dental procedure. The child, who had behavioral challenges, was undergoing surgery to remove four decaying teeth. When he failed to respond to the nitrous oxide, the dentist mistakenly increased the sedative dose, leading to a fatal outcome.
6. Absence of Judgment
This isn't the sole case where a young individual experienced severe complications from anesthesia. A 17-year-old girl had a heart attack during a standard wisdom teeth removal. Although the doctor managed to revive her and transport her to a hospital, she was declared brain dead a week later. The family pursued a malpractice lawsuit, claiming insufficient monitoring and inadequate emergency responses. There was also evidence that an uncertified dental assistant played a role in the failure to respond appropriately. The family received a $2 million settlement, but no amount of money can ease the pain of losing their daughter.
5. The Mommy Makeover Tragedy
A 38-year-old mother of two was vacationing with her family in Tijuana when she decided to take a trip to Mexico with two friends to undergo a 'mommy makeover.' Unfortunately, the tummy tuck turned fatal. She suffered from blood clotting during the procedure and had a heart attack. Despite 45 minutes of CPR, the medical team was unable to revive her. Both of her friends also faced serious complications.
Many plastic surgeries today are classified as outpatient procedures, meaning that patients arrive in the morning and are typically well enough to leave the same day (with some assistance). However, these surgeries come at a high cost. As a result, medical tourism has become more common, where individuals travel abroad to find 'certified' plastic surgeons who charge much less than they would in the US but promise similar outcomes. The problem is that these procedures often involve risks related to quality, hygiene, and the potential for medical malpractice.
It appears the safest option is to choose a certified doctor or avoid plastic surgery entirely.
4. Poison in the IV
Not every death during medical procedures is an accident. In 2012, a Texas nurse, Kimberly Clark Saenz, was arrested and sentenced to death for murdering dialysis patients while they were undergoing treatment. Dialysis is crucial for individuals with chronic kidney disease, as it helps filter and clean their blood when their kidneys fail. These patients place significant trust in the dialysis centers they rely on, and any mistake by the technicians can lead to severe health repercussions.
But Saenz showed no concern.
In 2008, about a year after Saenz began working at the dialysis center, administrators noticed a troubling rise in patients falling ill and suffering cardiac arrest during treatments. In an attempt to address the situation, the facility made staffing changes and reassigned nurses. Saenz was moved to a patient care technician role. Later that same day, two patients witnessed her injecting bleach into the IV lines and immediately reported the incident. She was terminated, and an investigation was launched to examine her involvement with the patients.
All five patients who died that year had interacted directly with Saenz. She was, indeed, in-saenz.
3. A Recurrent Offender
While labor is often seen as a routine and rewarding process, it does have undeniable surgical elements, especially in the case of C-sections, which are undoubtedly surgeries.
Every labor experience is unique, yet there are established protocols to handle nearly every situation. However, Dr. Dmitry Shelchkov—soon to be a former doctor—decided to ignore these protocols. Imagine being the cause of a child growing up without their mother. That's exactly what Shelchkov did.
In 2020, Dr. Shelchkov was directly responsible for the tragic death of 26-year-old Sha-Asia Washington, a mother from Brooklyn. During her C-section, he failed to provide her with oxygen after she began struggling to breathe. After administering her epidural, he gave her additional medication. Want to guess what it was? Fentanyl. And it was during this time that he neglected to ensure she had enough oxygen.
Two minutes after, she became unresponsive and had no pulse. She endured several cardiac arrests before passing away that evening.
Dr. Shelchkov has been associated with eight additional malpractice cases, including an incident where he failed to administer anesthesia during a C-section. His medical license is currently suspended.
2. The Fat Cells Incident
This particular plastic surgery death stands apart because the patient wasn’t seeking a lower-cost alternative. A 46-year-old transgender woman traveled from New York to Miami, Florida, to visit a clinic specializing in Brazilian butt lifts. She had booked a routine Brazilian butt lift procedure, with no complications expected.
Despite the fact that this surgery is considered routine, it carries more risk than other plastic surgeries. The danger arises when a surgeon injects fat below the gluteal muscles—your butt muscles—and the needle accidentally punctures the gluteal vein. This causes fat to enter the bloodstream, which can lead to severe complications like heart and lung failure. Over the past decade, at least 20 individuals in Miami alone have died from this procedure.
Tragically, this is exactly what happened to the beloved New Yorker. During the procedure, her oxygen and heart rate plummeted. The doctor was unable to revive her, and she was declared dead at the hospital. Her death was ruled accidental.
1. The da Vinci Robot
The medical field has seen incredible advancements, both in its procedures and its surgical tools. What was once considered major surgery, requiring large incisions, can now be performed with much smaller ones. Doctors can conduct cardiac ablations by threading tools through the femoral artery or remove a gallbladder with just two small incisions. In gynecology, similar innovations have allowed surgeons to perform hysterectomies with the help of new technology. And, of course, a robot can assist as well.
Enter the da Vinci robot! The benefits: it’s a minimally invasive surgical tool that can reduce the risk of complications for patients. The downside: it’s still relatively new technology, and doctors only receive a single day of formal training with it. Unfortunately, a small mistake with this robotic system can turn a celebration of technology into a tragedy.
In 2012, the da Vinci robot made a major mistake. During a robot-assisted hysterectomy, the robot’s arm accidentally punctured a blood vessel. This was far from the only issue involving these machines, but it stands out as the most tragic.
